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023

Musculoskeletal system - Q – Anatomic Position & term of reference & A – Meaning

Question

Answer

anatomic or anatomical position

a term of reference that health professionals use when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing for

body planes (Fig. 4-7)

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

coronal plane

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

transverse plane

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

anterior (A)

front of the body

posterior (P)

back of the body

anterior-posterior (AP)

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

posterior-anterior (PA)

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

superior

situated above another structure, toward the head

inferior

situated below another structure, away from the head

proximal

toward the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

distal

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

medial

toward the middle (midline)

axis

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

erect

normal standing position

decubitus

lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decumbo = to lie down)

prone

lying face down and flat

recumbent

lying down

supine (Fig. 4-8)

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back (“on the spine”)

flexion

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

extension

straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

abduction

movement away from the body

adduction

movement toward the body

rotation

circular movement around an axis

eversion

turning outward, i.e., of a foot

inversion

turning inward, i.e., of a foot

supination

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) upward or forward

pronation

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

dorsiflexion

bending of the foot or the toes upward

plantar flexion

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

range of motion (ROM)

total motion possible in a joint, described by the terms related to body movements (i.e., ability to flex, extend, abduct, or adduct); measured in degrees

goniometer (Fig. 4-10)

instrument used to measure joint angles (gonio = angle)

anatomic or anatomical position

a term of reference that health professionals use when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing for

body planes (Fig. 4-7)

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

coronal plane

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

transverse plane

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

anterior (A)

front of the body

posterior (P)

back of the body

anterior-posterior (AP)

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

posterior-anterior (PA)

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

superior

situated above another structure, toward the head

inferior

situated below another structure, away from the head

proximal

toward the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

distal

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

medial

toward the middle (midline)

axis

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

erect

normal standing position

decubitus

lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decumbo = to lie down)

prone

lying face down and flat

recumbent

lying down

supine (Fig. 4-8)

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back (“on the spine”)

flexion

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

extension

straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

abduction

movement away from the body

adduction

movement toward the body

rotation

circular movement around an axis

eversion

turning outward, i.e., of a foot

inversion

turning inward, i.e., of a foot

supination

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) upward or forward

pronation

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

dorsiflexion

bending of the foot or the toes upward

plantar flexion

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

range of motion (ROM)

total motion possible in a joint, described by the terms related to body movements (i.e., ability to flex, extend, abduct, or adduct); measured in degrees